Nobel Prize awarded for showing how nerve cells shape feelings

This year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to US psychiatrist and neurologist Karl Deisseroth, along with German colleagues Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel, for their groundbreaking work in the field of optogenetics. Their research has significantly advanced our understanding of the human brain, shedding light on how specific memories, feelings, and behaviors are linked to neural circuits.

The Nobel Committee commended the trio for establishing the groundwork of a new era in neuroscience and uncovering the neural mechanisms behind various disorders.

Clinical medicine is now utilizing optogenetics to investigate potential treatments for restoring sight in individuals with visual impairments. The Nobel Assembly noted that optogenetics has fundamentally transformed our comprehension of the brain, with new discoveries emerging daily that bring us closer to solving one of humanity's greatest mysteries: the workings of our remarkable brain.

The Nobel Prize winners expressed their delight and gratitude for receiving the award, stating it was an honor to share the recognition with their colleagues. They will divide the £900,000 (12 million Swedish kronor) prize money. Per Svenningsson, chair of the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine, explained that optogenetics enables scientists to map the brain in ways previously unimaginable.

Before optogenetics, the inner workings of feelings, behaviors, and bodily functions remained largely a mystery to researchers.

Optogenetics is a technique that uses a special protein derived from algae, called channelrhodopsin, to control cell electrical activity with light. Discovered by Hegemann and Nagel in the early 2000s, this protein has since allowed researchers to study nerve cells and pathways, revealing more about their functions and contributions to various neurological and psychiatric conditions.